Isolated pancreatic islets of the rat: an ultrastructural study

Pancreatic islets from adult Wistar rats were isolated by an improved collagenase digestion technique. Examination of the preparations showed that they contained B cells possessing secretory granules, each having an eccentric electron-dense core surrounded by an electron-lucent halo; the Golgi bodies with their characteristic features were located in a juxtanuclear position. Roughly surfaced endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria were present and were mostly normal in appearance. The cell possessed all the ultrastructural attributes indicating that they were fully functional and structurally intact.